Page 21 - luminar 2018 - user manual pc v 2_3.pages

Side Toolbar

The Side panel gives you access to three important sets of controls. The Histogram is a useful tool
for judging exposure and details. Layers lets you work with multiple objects to create a composite
image or to isolate effects or textures to their own place. The Filters section gives you precise
control over each filter you’ve added to a layer.

Histogram /Layers / Info Buttons

At the top of the side panel are three
buttons that provide advanced controls
over your images. If you are just
getting started with Luminar 2018, you
might leave these three options
deactivated. However, as you grow
comfortable with editing tasks or are
looking for the most flexibility and
control, be sure to explore them.

• Histogram – While color correcting
or adjusting exposure, the histogram
can be a great help. This graph
illustrates how the pixels in the image
are distributed across brightness

levels. More on the Histogram in the
next section.

• Layers – In Luminar, a layer can
contain image, transparency, and
filter information. This allows you to combine (or composite) multiple images into a new image as
well as make complex adjustments with maximum flexibility. By isolating discrete elements to

their own layers, it is easier to control options such as transparency and blending. For most users,
it’s a good idea to leave your Layers panel open while you work; this is where most of the action
takes place. The Layers panel is like the steering wheel of a car. We’ll explore layers in depth in the

chapter “Working with Layers.”
• Info – The Info Bar provides basic information about the file and can help you better understand
your image, as well as its resolution.

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